22. Aurel
22
AUREL
T he flames dance behind us, consuming the mansion that held me prisoner for so long. My wound has healed completely, thanks to Vera's magic, but the memory of taking that blow for her lingers. The remaining dark elves fled into the forest like the cowards they are, their screams still echoing in my ears.
"You're staring," Vera says, her eyes fixed on the burning building.
I shift closer to her, my serpentine body coiling protectively around her feet. "I can't help it. You're magnificent when you're destroying our enemies."
She turns to me, a small smile playing at her lips. "Our enemies?"
"Yours are mine now." I touch the spot where the noble's blade pierced me. "I meant what I said before. I'm yours."
The fire casts shadows across her face, highlighting the power that now radiates from her. She's no longer the fragile slave I first encountered. This Vera stands tall, confident, deadly.
"You could have died," she whispers, her hand reaching out to touch my chest.
"Worth it." I catch her hand and press it against my heart. "Every scar, every wound, every drop of blood – it's all yours."
The mansion's roof collapses with a thunderous crash, sending sparks spiraling into the night sky. Vera watches them rise, her expression thoughtful.
"I used to clean those halls," she says softly. "Now I've reduced them to ash."
"Good." I pull her closer, wrapping my arms around her. "Let it burn. Let them remember what happens when they dare to cage what isn't theirs."
She relaxes against me, and for the first time since my betrayal, she doesn't pull away. "We should go. The flames will attract attention."
"Where you go, I follow." I brush my lips against her temple. "That's the deal, remember?"
My coils shift restlessly against the ground, but I force myself to remain steady, to show her the truth in my words.
"Vera..." I reach for her hand, relieved when she doesn't pull away. "I meant what I said. I'll be your slave for eternity, if that's what you want."
Her fingers tighten around mine, and I feel the pulse of her magic – strong, steady, nothing like the weak presence I first sensed above my prison. She studies my face, her eyes searching for any trace of deception.
"I don't want a slave, Aurel." Her voice is soft but firm. "I can even remove the curse for you."
My chest tightens at her words. After everything I've done, she's still willing to set me free. The irony isn't lost on me – I who once manipulated her for my freedom, now faced with her offering it freely. But the thought of being separated from her, of losing this connection, sends a spike of panic through my body.
"And what if I don't want you to remove it?" The words come out rougher than intended, my voice thick with emotion. "What if I want to stay bound to you?"
I stare into Vera's hazel eyes, searching for any hint of deception. The hatred that once burned there, fueled by my betrayal, has transformed into something deeper, more profound. Love. The realization hits me like a physical blow, making my chest tighten.
My coils shift restlessly against the ground. "You don't understand what you're offering." I reach up, cupping her face with my hand. "Freedom without you isn't freedom at all."
"But after everything I did to you—" She starts to pull away, but I hold her gently in place.
"Look at me." My voice comes out rougher than intended. "Really look at me, Vera. Do you see a prisoner here? Do you see someone desperate to break free?"
Her eyes search mine, and I let her see everything – my fear, my devotion, my absolute certainty. The flames from the burning mansion reflect in her gaze, making the gold flecks dance like stars.
"No," she whispers. "I see you."
"Then you understand why I can't let you remove this curse." I press my forehead to hers, breathing in her scent. "I spent centuries dreaming of freedom, but now? The thought of being separated from you terrifies me more than any prison."
Her magic pulses between us, warm and inviting. No longer the weak presence I first sensed above my prison, but something powerful, magnificent. Something I never want to live without.
"You're sure?" Her voice trembles slightly. "Because once you choose this, there's no going back."
I laugh softly. "Going back? I crossed that line the moment I took that blade for you."
My heart pounds against my ribs as Vera's magic pulses between us, ready to remove the curse. The thought of being separated from her, even by choice, sends ice through my veins.
"Don't." I catch her wrist gently, pulling her hand away. "Leave it."
Her eyebrows knit together. "But why? You could be free."
"Because I want the reminder." My voice comes out rougher than intended. I press her palm against my chest, where my heart races beneath her touch. "I want to feel it every day – this bond that tells me I'm yours."
"You'd keep my curse?" Her fingers curl against my skin. "Willingly?"
"Every damn day." I lean closer, breathing in her scent. "Let it burn inside me. Let it remind me what happens when I stray."
A slow smile spreads across her face, and she reaches up with her free hand to caress my cheek. Her touch is gentle, but there's steel beneath it. "What a perfect reminder." Her thumb traces my bottom lip. "So you'll never forget who owns you."
I close my eyes and lean into her palm, savoring the warmth of her skin against mine. The curse pulses between us, a constant reminder of our bond, and for the first time since she cast it, I welcome its presence.
"Never," I whisper against her palm. "I'm yours, Vera. Always."
“I want a mate,” she says softly, her eyes meeting mine. “Someone who will stand beside me, not beneath me.”
My heart stops at her words. For centuries, I've been alone, feared, hated. Now this remarkable woman wants me as her equal, her mate. The curse pulses between us, but it's no longer a chain – it's a bridge.
"A mate?" My voice comes out rougher than intended. "You'd trust me with that? After everything?"
Vera steps closer, her magic dancing across my skin like electricity. "You've proven yourself. Not just by taking that blade, but by choosing to stay bound to me even when I offered freedom."
I cup her face in my hands, studying every detail – the determination in her eyes, the slight upturn of her lips, the way her pulse quickens under my touch. "I don't deserve this."
"That's not for you to decide." She covers my hands with hers. "I want you, Aurel. Not as a slave, not as a servant, but as my equal. My partner."
"Your mate," I breathe, still hardly daring to believe it. My coils shift restlessly against the ground, betraying my excitement. "You're sure?"
"I've never been more sure of anything." She rises on her tiptoes, pressing her forehead to mine. "So what do you say? Will you be my mate?"
The answer burns in my chest, as clear as the curse that binds us. "Yes. Gods, yes." I pull her closer, overwhelmed by the trust she's placing in me. "Your mate. Your equal. Yours in every way that matters."
I pull Vera into my arms, my lips crashing against hers with a desperate hunger. Her magic sparks between us, sending shivers down my spine. The curse pulses in time with our heartbeats, no longer a chain but a bridge connecting us.
"I'll be yours forever," I breathe against her lips, my coils wrapping protectively around her legs. "My mate. My equal."
She laughs softly, the sound making my heart skip. Her fingers trace the scales at my neck, sending electricity through my body. "Forever is a long time for an ancient being like you."
"Not long enough." I capture her lips again, drinking in her warmth, her taste, her essence. My hands tangle in her hair, holding her close as if she might disappear. "I've waited centuries to find you."
"And now?" Her breath catches as I trail kisses down her neck.
"Now I'm never letting go." The curse thrums between us, and I welcome its burn. "Every breath, every heartbeat, every moment – they're all yours."
She pulls back just enough to meet my gaze, her eyes bright with power and love. "Show me."
"Are you sure?" I ask, my voice a low rumble that seems to vibrate through the very air around us.
Vera grabs my hand and guides it into her panties, to her soaking wet pussy. The heat of her is scorching, a stark contrast to my cooler serpentine skin.
"Does it feel like I'm uncertain?" she asks huskily, her eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that takes my breath away.
I grin, taking her by surprise when I push two fingers inside her pussy. She's tight, and the way she clenches around me sends a jolt of desire coursing through my veins. Her gasp is music to my ears, and I can't help but feel a primal sense of satisfaction at her reaction.
As I curl my fingers inside of her, thrusting back and forth, she bites her lip, her eyes fluttering shut. "Oh, fuck," she groans, her head falling back as she gives herself over to the pleasure.
Using my tail to keep her steady, I yank her top down, exposing her breasts to the cool night air. Her nipples harden instantly, and I can't resist the urge to tug at them, to roll them between my fingers before lowering my head to suck on them. She writhes against me, her body responding to my touch with an eagerness that matches my own.
I can feel the power of her magic pulsing beneath her skin, mingling with the raw, untamed energy of my own. It's a heady sensation, one that I never want to end. With every moan that escapes her lips, with every buck of her hips against my hand, I know that I am completely, irrevocably hers.
Wrapping my hand around her throat, I pull Vera closer, capturing her lips in a searing kiss. She tastes like fire and revenge, a heady combination that sets my blood ablaze. My fingers inside her move rhythmically, coaxing her closer to the edge. She comes undone with a shuddering gasp, her body clenching around my fingers as she rides out her climax, grinning like a madwoman with the sheer ecstasy of it.
The sight of her like this, wild and untamed, only stokes the fire within me. I need more. I need to be inside her, to feel her warmth enveloping me completely.
"More," I growl against her lips, the word vibrating between us. It's a promise, a vow of the long night ahead.
Her eyes flash with desire as she unbuckles my belt, her fingers deft and sure. "Then what are you waiting for?"